Brandi Key named culinary director for Lasco Enterprises

Brandi Key, formerly of Clark Cooper Concepts, has been named culinary director for Lasco Enterprises,
overseeing all concepts including The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive and
Boiler House.

Brandi Key, formerly of Clark Cooper Concepts, has been named culinary director for Lasco Enterprises,
overseeing all concepts including The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive and
Boiler House.

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

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Brandi Key, formerly of Clark Cooper Concepts, has been named culinary director for Lasco Enterprises,
overseeing all concepts including The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive and
Boiler House.

Brandi Key, formerly of Clark Cooper Concepts, has been named culinary director for Lasco Enterprises,
overseeing all concepts including The Tasting Room, Max's Wine Dive and
Boiler House.

Photo: James Nielsen, Houston Chronicle

Brandi Key named culinary director for Lasco Enterprises

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After a surprising split with the Clark Cooper Concepts restaurant group in January, chef Brandi Key has landed a new role with another of the city's prominent culinary operations.

Lasco Enterprises announced Tuesday morning that Key is the company's new culinary director overseeing all concepts in cities including Houston, Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Denver.

"This is a change that will elevate our restaurants and provide a refresh," Jerry Lasco, founder and CEO of Lasco Enterprises, said in a statement. "Brandi understands Houston is a culinary epicenter and brings years of experience managing multiple concepts at once; that will translate well for us."

Lasco's holdings include The Tasting Room (at Uptown Park and CityCentre in Houston), Max's Wine Dive (two locations in Houston as well as Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Denver), and Boiler House in San Antonio.

Key is well known to Houston diners for the eight years she spent with Clark Cooper Concepts first as executive chef for Coppa Ristorante Italiano and then as head of culinary operations opening concepts including Coppa Osteria, Punk's Simple Southern Food, SaltAir Seafood Kitchen and The Dunlavy.

"I thrive on variety and the challenges that come with working on multiple concepts at one time," Key said in a statement. "There's always more to learn, and I look forward to this new journey ahead."

We reached out to Key and she had this additional comment:

"I can tell you that I am incredibly excited to start this new adventure in my career with all the people at Lasco," Key said. "Jerry and Laura (Lasco, vice president and general counsel for Lasco) are impeccable business people and restaurateurs. Our passion for craveable food and wine are a perfect match. I can't wait to dive in and be an impact to a new group of chefs and managers in all our restaurants both in Houston and our other cities. We have some exciting things in the works to freshen up all of our menus over all of our concepts. So be on the lookout because we are about to have a whole lot of fun."